Sarah P. Duke Gardens

I am behind on blogging. I still have about 5 gardens to share that we saw on our trip and I only managed to get through the F's on my rose inventory. Oh well, at least I'm not low on topics! Unfortunately I didn't even have a chance to photograph our hydrangeas this year and they were spectacular. They are still blooming so hopefully I'll get to them soon. I also have a brand new camera to play with so I'm excited about that!

My last vacation post was about Plant Delights, the phenomenal nursery in Raleigh, N.C. We stayed the night in Raleigh and the next morning headed toward Virginia. Our plan was to stop in Durham and visit the Sarah P. Duke Gardens at Duke University. This was only about 30 minutes from Raleigh. 

To say we were both blown away by this garden is an understatement. It far exceeded my expectations (in fact, I had earlier considered skipping it). The gardens were beautiful and impeccably maintained. They are named after Sarah P. Duke, widow of one of the university's founders, Benjamin N. Duke. She donated $20,000 in the 1930s to finance a garden that would bear her name.

This long perennial border leads to the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants

 The gardens consist of four parts. The first is the H.L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants.

Some late native azaleas were still blooming.

Millstones are used throughout the native plant garden as pathways, tables, and stepping stones.

The Terraced Garden

Then we come to the Terraced Gardens, which were my favorite. I've always loved terraces. This area (see the photo at the top of the post for a wide view) was originally a ravine. After a flood destroyed the first garden which featured iris, bulbs and annuals, a new garden was built on higher ground. It was designed by the famous landscape architect Ellen Shipman and this garden remains one of her few surviving works.

Note the beautiful yellowish line of conifers to the right of the lady working. We were appalled to see that she was ripping them out! They looked perfectly healthy and beautiful but I guess there were other plans.

Many of the flowers in the borders were just getting started and some had been newly planted. I would love to see this garden in the peak of summer.

A small restaurant sat in the corner of one of the upper level terraces. There is a little courtyard behind it where you can eat your sandwiches.

A large pool, filled with koi,  sits at the base of the terraces.

Looking down on the pool and the terraces from the opposite hillside.

The William L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum is devoted to plants of eastern Asia.

There is something about a garden like this that makes you want to go home and create one.

A late blooming azalea. I believe we saw this same azalea in Pam Harper's garden.

A banana plant (I think)

There was also a Butterfly Garden, tucked in between the Terraces and the Asian Gardens.

This is the Page-Rollins White Garden, part of the Doris Duke Center Gardens (Sarah Duke was the aunt of Doris) which was just redesigned last year. It was inspired by the famous white garden at  Sissinghurst Castle.

There are five miles of allées, walks, and pathways throughout the gardens. We were there about 4 hours and finished just as it began to rain. It was a great experience.

Next stop - Pam Harper's garden in Seaford, Virginia.

Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy